Bodhran

 

Description of the Bodhran

 

The bodhran is the traditional Celtic frame drum. The cross braces and laminated rosewood strengthen the shell of this goatskin-covered drum. With a rich deep sound, these drums are great fun even if you have not mastered the traditional playing.

 

Each bodhran is shipped with two wooden beaters, a slim beater, and a two knob beater.

 

Playing the Bodhran

 

To begin, hold the drum by the cross bracing. This is a nice secure grip. When you become familiar with playing the drum and your arms strengthen you can advance to a more sophisticated grip. At that time you can try sliding your hand between the cross bracing and the drum head. This allows you to press your fingertips against the inner rim of the drum head. Doing this lets you alter the sounds that the drum makes while being played. The traditional method of playing the bodhran is a fast back and forth swinging of the beater over the face of the drum. Hold the beater in your dominant hand. Hold it with a grip similar to holding a pencil. When you hold a pencil you hold it near the end with most of the pencil sticking out above your fingers. When holding a beater, most of the beater hangs down from your fingers. The grip is very similar to holding a thermometer. The motion you want to achieve is the same motion as shaking a thermometer before using it. The swing is in the wrist. The beater has a pendulum-like swing up and down across the head of the drum. The beater makes contact at the top and bottom of the swing. Practice! As you get better you will find that you can add a third beat from the TOP of the beater, but that takes some time. Have fun.

 

Bodhran 14" Inside Tunable (BTN4) has an 14” diameter and is 3 1/2 " deep; the natural goatskin head is tacked to the frame and is tunable from the inside. There are no clamps or tuning mechanism visible from the outside. Nylon quilted carrying case (NC14) sold separately.